Our Picks This Month

Shrubs and Color:

With the weather warming up, plants at the nursery are blooming like there's no tomorrow! Here are a few plants that are particularly spectacular right now...

Clematis

Nothing adds drama to the yard like clematis in bloom! We have both evergreen and deciduous clematis in stock, in a variety of interesting colors and styles. Here are a few of the standouts:

'Boulevard Olympia' - Compact, with medium-sized, rich purple blossoms; repeat flowering from early spring to late summer; flowers evenly from the very bottom of the plant, not just at the top. Deciduous.

'Piilu' - Two-toned, pale pink and red-violet flowers with light purple-pink sepals. Blooms continuously from top to bottom, first as double blooms, and later as single blooms. Ideal for containers. Deciduous.

'Niobe' - Robust, bushy grower with leathery green foliage and large, brilliantly colored, wine-red blooms. Roots prefer a cool, sheltered setting that allows top growth some sun exposure. Deciduous.

Mandevilla

This tropical stunner is worth finding a spot for! We currently have both 1-gallon sizes and 4-inch starter sizes in stock. Plant in a shady spot in your yard, and enjoy bright, splashy color all summer long...

'Sun Parasol Apricot' - Lovely, very large, apricot-colored blooms with deep orange throats and pink edging; a natural climber with excellent branching and glossy, green foliage. Great heat tolerance. Superb disease resistance.

'Sun Parasol White' - Long-lasting, 2- to 3-inch pure white blooms with yellow throats; glossy green foliage and twining habit make it an excellent candidate for a trellis. A frost-tender evergreen; treat as an annual in cooler regions.

Delphinium

There's something magical about a row of Delphiniums standing sentry in a garden. Come browse our selection of 1-gallon and 4-inch starter pots, and bring their mythical charm home to your castle.

'King Arthur' - Plants form a low mound of deeply-cut green leaves, bearing tall spikes of royal purple flowers with white centers, or "bees"; makes a great companion plant for roses.

'Black Knight' - Tall spikes of flowers in a gorgeous shade of dark violet-blue with a black bee in the center; may require staking while flowering, especially in windy areas, as it can grow up to 6 feet tall.

Edibles:

It's not too late to get your warm-season veggies in the ground! Here are a few varieties we think should be on your radar...

Tomatoes

'Stupice '
Pronounced, "stoo-PEECH-ka", this Czechoslovakian native is no stranger to chilly weather, and its hardiness, flavor, and production have earned it worldwide acclaim. The indeterminate plants start producing sweet, round, red fruit about 52 days from transplanting, and keep going all season. A local favorite, it won first place in a 1988 comparative tasting in the San Francisco area for its sweet/acid balance, tomato-y flavor, and high yields. Delicious for salads and snacking!

Peppers

'Corno di Toro'
Translated as "bull's horn" due to their distinctive shape, these sweet peppers are traditional favorites in Italy. The tall, hybrid plants bear heavy fruit sets of marvelous-looking, 8" to 12" long, shiny peppers whose flesh is crisp and sweet. Che bel

Squash

'Ronde de Nice'
This French heirloom variety is très délicieux! Its unique round shape is eye-catching and whimsical, and the flesh is fine-flavored and tender. Vigorous, quick-growing plants make this squash a favorite of home and market gardeners alike.

Eggplant

'Ping Tung'
Named for its home county in Taiwan, this eggplant is a bright purple and sized up to 18" long, 2" in diameter. It's particularly well-known for high, consistent yields and dependability, even in extreme heat. It is so sweet and tender, you can add it straight to a dish without pre-salting, and even leave the skin on during cooking! Delicious in ratatouille, moussaka, and any dish calling for roasted vegetables.

Cucumber

'Eversweet F1'
These cukes are sweet, crisp, and never bitter! Medium-green fruits have smooth skin and small white spines, and can be enjoyed either young at 4", or full-grown at 8". The semi-bush, restricted vines grow only 2-3 feet long and are very robust. They also produce both male and female flowers, ensuring excellent yields over a long period.

Houseplants:

Bolster your spirits with houseplants! Studies have shown both physical and mental health benefits to surrounding yourself with green and growing things. Here are a few plants to invite into your space...

Variegated Peperomia

This plant is much more than just a pretty face! Robust and easy to care for, it is often utilized in dish gardens, bottle gardens, and anywhere else space is limited. Ours come pre-potted in attractive stone pottery that would go well with most home décor styles.

Orchids

Though they have a reputation for being persnickety, orchids are actually much hardier than people think. We've just restocked our selection of Phalaenopsis and Oncidiums, so there's never been a better time to kick off your orchid obsession!

New Garden Accessories!

Warm weather is in sight, which means it's time to glam up your garden! Our Garden Gift Room is filled with fun and beautiful accessories to help you take your outdoor space to the next level. Check out these recent additions:

Gecko Wall Art

Our new gecko wall art is fun, quirky, and sturdy; the perfect way to brighten up your outdoor room! With all the sizes and colors we have in stock, don't be surprised if you fall in love with more than one...

Wind Chimes

"The wind plays its own music."
~ Bert McCoy

The wind might play its own music, but wind chimes help you hear it. We've just expanded our wind chime selection, so you can enjoy every note...

Decorative Thermometers

Watch the mercury rise in style with our new selection of decorative garden thermometers. Reward yourself with a cold drink once it hits 90 degrees!

Critters: Keep Out!

Keep critters away from your precious plants with Frost Protek plant covers. Made from lightweight, breathable fabric, these covers are a breeze to install and can be left on indefinitely as needed. They're a great option for organic gardening, eliminating the need for pesticide sprays, and also deter larger critters like bunnies, birds, squirrels, and deer.

Here are the covers we currently have in stock:

* Garden Bed Plant Cover
* Row Cover
* Tall Plant Cover
* Container Cover

Stop by the nursery and start protecting your plants today!

Soil Sale

Our rotating soil sale is still ongoing! From now until June 23, take advantage of our sale on G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner.

Never used Soil Building Conditioner before? Here's how it works.

Soil Building Conditioner is THE treatment for hard, compacted, clay-type soils. It's filled with semi-decomposed organic matter that will continue to break down in your garden. The larger pieces in the Conditioner help to break up hard places in your natural soil, and the decomposition process adds nutrients and encourages the development of a robust microbiome. Additionally, it makes a fantastic mulch or top-dressing.

Currently, we have an offer of Buy 3, Get 1 Free on our Soil Building Conditioner. If your garden soil is in need of some TLC, now is the time to stock up!

Featured Recipe
Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, more to grease pans
• 1 1/2 pounds rhubarb, rinsed and sliced into 1/2-inch cubes about 4 cups
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Zest of 1 lemon, grated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Butter the paper and sides of the pan. Wrap two layers of foil under the pan, and place it on a buttered baking sheet.
3. In a medium bowl, mix rhubarb, cornstarch and 1/2 cup granulated sugar.
4. Mix the brown sugar and 1/2 stick butter in a pan over medium heat. Whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 2 minutes.
5. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder and salt.
6. Whip 2 sticks butter in a mixer with a paddle attachment for 2 minutes. With your fingers, blend the remaining 1 cup sugar with lemon zest until the mixture is uniform in color. Cream together with the butter at medium-high speed until it is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl halfway through.
7. Add the vanilla and mix well.
8. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
9. Mix in the sour cream, then the lemon juice. (It's O.K. if the mixture looks curdled.)
10. With the mixer set to low speed, add the flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, until well combined. Scrape down the mixer bowl in between the additions.
11. Pour the brown-sugar mixture into the cake pan, then spoon in the rhubarb and its juices.
12. Spoon in the batter so it covers all of the rhubarb. Smooth out the top.
13. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the top of the cake is firm to touch and a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out without any large, moist crumbs.
14. Place the pan on a wire rack, and cool for 15 minutes.
15. Run a knife around the cake, place a plate on top of the pan and turn it upside-down. Release the cake from the pan while still warm or else it will stick.

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